Captive stopper for toothpaste tubes and like containers

ABSTRACT

A closure for dispensing-type containers such as collapsible tubes, comprising a tubular orifice for location at the discharge end of the container, said orifice having annular transverse end surfaces at its outer and inner ends. Two stopper members are engageable respectively with the end surfaces of the orifice, said members being connected together by a resilient hinge pin which is eccentrically disposed in the orifice and which mounts the stopper members for simultaneous pivotal movement between closing positions wherein they shut off the orifice bore and dispensing positions wherein they open said bore. At least one of the stopper members has a raised land portion which is adapted to occupy one end of the orifice bore. The hinge pin flexes to permit said land portion to surmount and traverse the one end surface of the orifice during pivotal movement of the stopper members between the open and closed positions. The land portion provides a detent action, apprising the user of the fully closed positioning of the stopper members.

United States Patent Arthur M. Harris henna, Conn. 855,552

Sept. 5, 1969 Mil. 9, I971 inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented CAPTIV E STOPPER FOR TOO'I'IIPASTE TUBES AND LIKE CONTAINERS 14 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,966,035 7/1934 Jensen 2,907,502 10/1959 Lang Primary Examiner-Stanley l'l. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney-H. Gibner Lehmann the discharge end of the container, said orifice having annular transverse end surfaces at its outer and inner ends. Two stopper members are engageable respectively with the end surfaces of the orifice, said members being connected together by a resilient hinge pin which is eccentrically disposed in the orifice and which mounts the stopper members for simultaneous pivotal movement between closing positions wherein they shut off the orifice bore and dispensing. positions wherein they open said bore. At least one of the stopper members has a raised land portion which is adapted to occupy one end of the orifice bore. The hinge pin flexes to pennit said land portion to surmount and traverse the one end surface of the orifice during pivotal movement of the stopper members between'the open and closed positions. The land portion provides a detent action, apprising the user of the fully closed positioning of the stopper members.

II II II II II PATENTEDHAR 9 [9n SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTOR Harris II II H II n lllll m Arthur AGENT PATENTED m 9 I9?! SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR. Art/um M. Harms CAPTIVE STOFPER FOR TOOTHPASTE TUBES AND LIKE CONTAINERS BACKGROUND This invention relates to closures for dispensing-type containers such as collapsible tubes and the like, and more particularly to closures wherein the stopper means is held captive and is shiftable between open and closed positions.

I-Ieretofore captive closures of the kind indicated, as used with collapsible tubes and the like, have been either of the screw cap type held captive by a loop member, or of the snap fit type wherein the stopper member is connected to a body portion by a thin flexible web. Another type of closure involved a tubular bushing having inner and outer ends which are closed by stopper members that connect with each other through an eccentric hinge pin to effect their simultaneous movement and mounting. These various prior stoppers or closures had a number of disadvantages. The screwcap type was not especially sanitary, since the screw threads tended to become contaminated with product, resulting in a messy condition..The snap-cap closure wherein the cap is connected to a body portion by a thin flexible web, was not easily operated under all conditions of use. Often, to avoid the necessity for fitting the cap to the body and thereafter snapping it in place, the user would merely ignore the closing operation entirely. In addition, if the snap cap fitted rather snugly, there was difficulty in easily disengaging it from the body, whereby the intended convenience of this type of closure was lost. The bushing-type closure having the eccentrically-mounted stopper members often did not provide a satisfactory seal, especially since there was no easy way of indicating to the user when the stopper was in the completely closed condition.

The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior captivetype closures or stoppers for toothpaste and other collapsible tubes are obviated by the present invention, one object being the provision of an improved captive stopper which is espe cially simple and easy to operate, which is sanitary, and which provides a distinct detent action so that the user can be certain of the proper fully closed or sealing position of the stopper members. This is accomplished by the provision of a tubular orifice for disposition at the discharge end of the container, said orifice having transverse end surfaces which are engageable by a pair of stopper members respectively carried by a resilient hinge pin which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the orifice. Raised land portions are provided on at least one of the stopper members, together with feathered edges therefor. In conjunction with this, the hinge pin is made sufficiently flexible to permit said land portions to surmount and traverse the adjoining end surfaces of the orifice when the stopper members are being shifted between the opened and closed positions. As the land portions become seated in the end of the bore of the orifice, a definite tactual indication is bad by the user, to the effect that the stopper members are completely closed and properly sealing the contents of the container.

Other objects and features of the invention result in the provision of an improved captive-type closure of the kind indicated, which is especially simple and inexpensive to manufacture, effective and reliable in its operation, easily used by even those persons who are unacquainted with the operational procedure, and reliable and foolproof in its operation.

Still other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in axial section of a collapsible tube or container having incorporated in it the improved captive-type closure as provided by the invention. The closure is shown in the sealing condition or position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view somewhat similar to that of FIG. 1' but showing the closure in the unsealing or dispensing condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body or orifice portion of the closure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stopper assemblage of the closure.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary axial sectional view similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stopper member assernblage incorporating a stop lug, such as is illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary axial sectional view similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 6, but showing still anotherembodiment of the invention wherein the closure has sloped! cooperable sealing surfaces.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary axial sectional view like that of FIG. 8, but illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention wherein a single outer closure member is utilized.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary axial sectional view similar to the views of FIGS. 8 and 9, but illustrating a still different embodiment of the invention, wherein a resilient sealing gasket is utilized.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a collapsible container or tube 10 having an unthreaded neck portion 12 at its discharge end 14. At the end 14 there is provided a tubular orifice 16, shown as a hollow cylinder characterized by a cylindrical outer surface 18 sized so that the orifice can be press-fitted in the neck portion 12 of the tube 10. The orifice 16 has annular transverse end surfaces 20, 22 at its outer and inner ends, and has a kidney-shaped bore 24 as well as a bearing recess 26 extending axially, that is, between its end surfaces 20, 22. When the orifice 16 is carried in the neck portion 12, the product from the tube 10 can; be discharged through the bore 24 of the orifice, as will be understood.

The invention provides a novel stopper assemblage, comprising a pair of stopper members 28, 30 which are engageable respectively with the end surfaces 20, 22 of the orifice 16. At least one of the stopper members, and preferably both said members has or have raised land portions adapted to occupy the orifice bore. As seen in FIG. 5, the outer stopper member 28 has a raised land portion 32 and the inner stopper member 30 has a raised land portion 34 arranged to occupy respective ly the inner and outer end portions of the bore 24 of the orifice 16, when the stopper assemblage is in the closed condition.

Such condition is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The stopper members 28, 30 are connected with each other by resilient hinge pin 36 which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the orifice 16, said pin occupying, and bearing against the walls of said recess. The hinge pin 36 mounts the stopper members 28, 30 for simultaneous pivotal movement between closing positions wherein they shut off the orifice bore 24 as illustrated in FIG. 1, and dispensing or opened positions wherein they open the said bore as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The land portions 32, 34 of the stopper members have feathered or beveled edges as indicated at 38, 40 in FIGS. 4 and 5. The hinge pin 36 flexes to permit the land portions 32,

L 34 of the stopper members to surmount and traverse the annular end surfaces of the orifice 16, this action being facilitated by the beveled edges 38, 40 of the land portions. The hinge pin 36 normally holds the stopper members 28, 30 in intimate sealing engagement with the orifice and end surfaces 20, 22 respectively when the members are in the position which shuts off the orifice bore as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The outer stopper member 28 is shown as having a hexagonal configuration whereby it simulates a conventional screw cap of such configuration; or it may have knurling on its periphery, in each case to indicate to an erstwhile user the method of operation of the closure. For instance, a consumer or user having a container with a captive closure as illustrated in FIG. 1 would normally tend to turn the outer stopper member 28 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the discharge end of the tube 10, in order to avail himselfof the product in the tube. This turning movement will be transmitted through the hinge pin 36 to the inner stopper member 30, and both stopper members will turn as a unit to the posi-' tion of FIG. 2 against the yieldable detent action of the raised land portions 32, 34 and pin 36. Thus the user without knowing it has unwittingly properly actuated the closure even though he may have mistakenly thought that it was of the ordinary screwcap type. After use of the product from the tube 10, the user will merely turn again the outer stopper member 28 to restore the stopper members to the sealing position of FIG. 1. As the members attain such sealing position, the raised land portions 32, 34 will occupy the opposite end portions of the bore 24 of the orifice 16. A yieldable detent sensation is felt as the stopper assemblage reaches such position, indicating to the user that the closure is in the proper, sealing condition.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the stopper member 28a has a stop lug 42 adapted to engage a sidewall of the container neck portion 12 to halt the stopper assemblage in the fully closed position.

In the showing of FIGS. 6 and 7 the stop lug 42 is disposed so as to permit clockwise turning and prevent counterclockwise turning. This showing is made for convenience of illustration, it being understood that the stop lug 42 may be disposed on the opposite edge of the stopper member 28a whereby it prevents clockwise turning and permits counterclockwise tuming such as might be expected of a screwcap.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8. In this embodiment the orifice 16b which is press-fitted into the neck 12 of the container has a composite outer end surface comprising hub surfaces 44 which are normal to the axis of the orifice and sloped surfaces 48, said surfaces cooperating with hub and sloped surfaces 50, 52 respectively of the stopper member 28b. As in the previous embodiments of the invention, the outer stopper member 2811 is connected to the inner stopper member 30b by a resilient eccentrically disposed hinge pin, labeled 36b. The stopper members 28b, 30b have raised land portions 32b, 34b, respectively to provide a detent action as already explained-above. By virtue of the angularly disposed cooperable surfaces 48, 52 less flexing of the hinge pin 36b is required during the actuation of the stopper, as compared with the previous embodiments wherein the cooperable sealing surfaces are all normal to the axis of the stopper. In FIG. 8 the stopper is shown in the closed position, and it will be understood that the opening turning movement is in a clockwise direction as viewed from the outer end of the stopper.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein but a single stopper member, that disposed at the exterior of the container, is provided. With such arrangement, the product which remains in the orifice member always forms part of the mass which is stored in the container. In FIG. 9, the orifice member 16c is essentially the same as the orifice member 16b of FIG. 8. The outer stopper member 28c shown in FIG. 9 hassloped surfaces 520 and straight or normal surfaces 500 which are cooperable with corresponding outer end surfaces 480 and 44c of the orifice 16c. A resilient hinge pin 36c connects the outer stopper member 280 with an inner shoulder 300 which merely acts as a stop, to prevent outward axial movement of the hinge pin 360. The shoulder 30c is of relatively small diameter, and cannot cover or close off the inner end of the bore of the orifice 16c, whereby the product contained in such bore will always form part of the larger mass which is contained in the tube 10.

The outer stopper member 28c has a detent nib 56 which engages the inside of the edge of the orifice bore, providing a tactual sensation when the stopper reaches the fully closed condition and also tending to hold the stopper in such closed condition. By virtue of the small diameter shoulder 30c at the inner end of the hinge pin 360, which precludes shutting ofi' of the product in the bore of the orifice there is lessened any likelihood of drying out of such product since it continually forms a part of the larger mass in the tube 10.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 10, wherein a resilient sealing gasket is provided on the outer stopper member to insure an effective sealing off of the product. In this figure, the orifice 16d has a planar, angularly disposed outer end surface 58 which is engaged by a resilient sealing gasket 60 carried by a planar, angularly disposed surface 62 of the outer stopper member 28d. A resilient hinge pin 36d connects the outer stopper member 28d with the inner stopper member 30d, the latter having a detent nib 64 which is engageable with the inside of the inner edge of the orifice 16d. The detent nib 64 tends to securely hold the sealing gasket 60 in engagement with the sloped end surface 58 of the orifice member 16d. In this embodiment the inner stopper member 30d shuts off or closes the inner end of the bore of the orifice member 16d, as with several of the previously described embodiments.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved captive stopper for collapsible tubes and the like, which is especially easy to operate, effective and reliable, simple, and economical to manufacture and produce. The stopper is sanitary inasmuch as there are no threads to become contaminated and is particularly convenient since the user is not required to effect a snap fit or an alignment of a snap cap to reclose the container. The turning movements which characterize the present stopper are especially simple to carry out, and the detent action with or without the stop lug provides a tactual indication to the user when the stopper assemblage is in the fully sealing condition.

I claim:

1. A closure for dispensing-type containers and the like,

comprising in combination:

a. a tubular orifice for disposition at the discharge end of the container;

b. said orifice having annular transverse end surfaces at its outer and inner ends;

0. a pair of stopper members engageable respectively with said end surfaces of the orifice;

d. at least one of said stopper members having a raised land portion adapted to occupy an end of the orifice bore;

e. said land portion having feathered edges;

f. a resilient hinge pin eccentrically disposed with respect to said orifice, said hinge pin being secured to said stopper members to mount the same for simultaneous pivotal movement between closing positions wherein they shut off the orifice bore and dispensingpositions wherein they open said bore;

g. said hinge pin flexing to permit the land portion of said one stopper member to surmount and traverse said one end surface of the orifice; and

h. said hinge pin normally holding the stopper members in intimate sealing engagement with the orifice end surfaces when the members are in the position to shut off the orifice bore.

2. A closure as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the orifice has an outer cylindrical surface and is adapted to be press-fitted into the neck of a container; and

b. said orifice having a bearing recess in which the hinge pin turns.

3. A closure as in claim 2, wherein:

a. the bore of the orifice is of kidney-shaped cross section;

and

b. said land portion having a kidney shape.

4. A closure as in claim 1, wherein:

a. the other of said stopper members has a raised land portion characterized by feathered edges; and

b. said second-mentioned land portion being adapted to occupy the other end of the orifice bore.

5. A closure as in claim 4, wherein:

a. the orifice has an outer cylindrical surface and is adapted to be press-fitted into the neck of a container;

b. said orifice having a bearing recess in which the hinge pin turns;

c. said orifice bore having a kidney-shaped cross section;

and

d. said land portions having corresponding kidney shapes.

6. A closure as in claim 1, wherein one stopper member has a hexagonal shape.

7. A closure as in claim 1, wherein the outer annular end surface of the orifice has portions making an acute angle with respect to the orifice axis.

8. A closure for dispensing-type containers and the like,

comprising in combination:

a. a tubular orifice for disposition at the discharge end of the container;

.b. said orifice having annular transverse end surfaces at its outer and inner ends;

c. a stopper member engageable-with the outer end surface of the orifice;

d. a hinge pin eccentrically disposed with respect to said orifice and having a shoulder engaged with the inner end surface of the orifice, said pin being secured to' the stopper member to mount the same for pivotal movement between a closing position wherein it shuts off the orifice bore and a dispensing position wherein it opens said bore;

e. said hinge pin normally holding the stoppr member in intimate sealing engagement with the orifice end surface when the member is in position to shut off the orifice bore; and

f. detent means yieldably holding the stopper in its orificeclosing position.

9. A closure as in claim 8, wherein the detent means comprises a nib on the inside of the stopper member, engageable with the outer end of the orifice.

10. A closure as in claim 8, and further including a gasket on the stopper member, constituting the surface thereof which engages the end surface of the orifice.

11. A closure as in claim 10, wherein:

a. the shoulder of the hinge pin comprises an inner stopper for closing off the inner end of the orifice; and

b. said detent means comprising a nibv on the inner stopper,

engageable with the inner end of the orifice.

12. A closure as in claim 8, wherein the outer annular end surface of the orifice has portions making an acute angle with respect to the orifice 13. A closure as in claim 10,wherein the gasket and outer end surface of the orifice lie in a plane: which makes an acute angle with respect to the orifice axis.

14. A closure as in claim 8, wherein: Y

a. the shoulder of the hinge pin comprises an inner stopper for closing off the inner end of the orifice;'and

b. one annular end surface of the orifice having portions making an acute angle with respect to the orifice axis. 

1. A closure for dispensing-type containers and the like, comprising in combination: a. a tubular orifice for disposition at the discharge end of the container; b. said orifice having annular transverse end surfaces at its outer and inner ends; c. a pair of stopper members engageable respectively with said end surfaces of the orifice; d. at least one of Said stopper members having a raised land portion adapted to occupy an end of the orifice bore; e. said land portion having feathered edges; f. a resilient hinge pin eccentrically disposed with respect to said orifice, said hinge pin being secured to said stopper members to mount the same for simultaneous pivotal movement between closing positions wherein they shut off the orifice bore and dispensing positions wherein they open said bore; g. said hinge pin flexing to permit the land portion of said one stopper member to surmount and traverse said one end surface of the orifice; and h. said hinge pin normally holding the stopper members in intimate sealing engagement with the orifice end surfaces when the members are in the position to shut off the orifice bore.
 2. A closure as in claim 1, wherein: a. the orifice has an outer cylindrical surface and is adapted to be press-fitted into the neck of a container; and b. said orifice having a bearing recess in which the hinge pin turns.
 3. A closure as in claim 2, wherein: a. the bore of the orifice is of kidney-shaped cross section; and b. said land portion having a kidney shape.
 4. A closure as in claim 1, wherein: a. the other of said stopper members has a raised land portion characterized by feathered edges; and b. said second-mentioned land portion being adapted to occupy the other end of the orifice bore.
 5. A closure as in claim 4, wherein: a. the orifice has an outer cylindrical surface and is adapted to be press-fitted into the neck of a container; b. said orifice having a bearing recess in which the hinge pin turns; c. said orifice bore having a kidney-shaped cross section; and d. said land portions having corresponding kidney shapes.
 6. A closure as in claim 1, wherein one stopper member has a hexagonal shape.
 7. A closure as in claim 1, wherein the outer annular end surface of the orifice has portions making an acute angle with respect to the orifice axis.
 8. A closure for dispensing-type containers and the like, comprising in combination: a. a tubular orifice for disposition at the discharge end of the container; b. said orifice having annular transverse end surfaces at its outer and inner ends; c. a stopper member engageable with the outer end surface of the orifice; d. a hinge pin eccentrically disposed with respect to said orifice and having a shoulder engaged with the inner end surface of the orifice, said pin being secured to the stopper member to mount the same for pivotal movement between a closing position wherein it shuts off the orifice bore and a dispensing position wherein it opens said bore; e. said hinge pin normally holding the stopper member in intimate sealing engagement with the orifice end surface when the member is in position to shut off the orifice bore; and f. detent means yieldably holding the stopper in its orifice-closing position.
 9. A closure as in claim 8, wherein the detent means comprises a nib on the inside of the stopper member, engageable with the outer end of the orifice.
 10. A closure as in claim 8, and further including a gasket on the stopper member, constituting the surface thereof which engages the end surface of the orifice.
 11. A closure as in claim 10, wherein: a. the shoulder of the hinge pin comprises an inner stopper for closing off the inner end of the orifice; and b. said detent means comprising a nib on the inner stopper, engageable with the inner end of the orifice.
 12. A closure as in claim 8, wherein the outer annular end surface of the orifice has portions making an acute angle with respect to the orifice axis.
 13. A closure as in claim 10, wherein the gasket and outer end surface of the orifice lie in a plane which makes an acute angle with respect to the orifice axis.
 14. A closure as in claim 8, wherein: a. the shoulder of the hinge pin comprises an inner stopper for closing off the inner end of the orifice; and b. one annular end surface of the orifice having portions making an acute angle with respect to the orifice axis. 